Printing telegraphy



Oct. 18, 1927. A. D DOWD PRINTING TELEGRAPHY Filed Sept. 23. 1922 m bwl Patented Get. i8, 19

UNITED STATES messes ANDREW ID. DO'WD, F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N.

YORK.

$21, A CORPORATION OF NEW PRINTING TELEGRAEEY L'.

Application filed September 23, 1922. Serial No. 589,975.

This invention relates to printing telegraph systems.

The present form of commercial multiplex system is operated in accordance with the Baudot or .five unit code which is arranged for the transmitting or receiving of five impulses while the start-stop system required seven impulses. It is often desired to utilize a receiving printer designed for the latter l0 type of system in connect-ion with the former type of system, but to do so requires the use of a device which will providetwo additional impulses. It is the object of the present invention to facilitate the operation l5 of a system employing both multiplex and start-stop equipment in a simple and practical manner.

The resent invention accomplishes the above 0 ject through the provisionof a distributor of the start-stop type which is released from the synchronous multiplex distributor and which functions to distribute to a receiving printer designed for seven impulses, the impulses stored in electrical storage elements, as distributed by the multiplex distributor, in addition to supplying the additional impulses required for operating the receiving printer.

One of the embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows. only so much of the mechanism and circuit connections as are necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, A and B 85 are two distributor faces, which faces consist of a plurality of segments and continuous rings. The distributor A is of the continuously operating or synchronous multiplex type, while the distributor B is of the startstop type, that is, the brush arm which bridges the segments forming the outer ring with the inner ring, is stopped once per revolution. The distributor brush arms 10 and 50 are mounted on a constantly rotating shaft which may be driven by any suitable means, as a driving motor, the brush arm being frictionally mounted on its respective shaft in order that it may be stopped periodically. Each of the brush arms carries brushes which 50 are adapted to sweep over its respective distributor face, thus mterconnecting the seg; ments and the continuous rings as the brus arms are rotated.

Connected intermediate the distributor faces A and B are a plurality of condensers or other form of electrostatic means 11 to 15, inclusive. These condensers have one terminal grounded, while the other terminal is connected with a segment forming a part of the outer ring of the distributor face A,

and are included in one channel of the multiplex distributor, which, as is well known to those familiar with such systems, may be provided for double duplex operation. As

the brush arm 10 revolves, the segments to which the terminals of the condensers 11 to 15, inclusive, are connected, will be bridged by means of brush 16 with continuous ring 17 to which the armature of line relay 18' is connected. Line relay 18 has its windings serially connected with line conductor 19.

which extends from a distant station and over which groups of code combinations of message impulses are transmitted, and which are, through the instrumentalities of the mechanism hereinafter described, recorded in printed form. The impulses transmitted over the line conductor 19 are preferably of the Baudot or five-unit code. As brush arm 10 bridges the respective segments condensers 11 to 15, inclusive, will be charged in accordance with the operation of relay 18, thereby storin a group of impulses corresponding to t e impulses originally transmitted over the line conductor 19.

Each of the condensers 11 to 15 also has its ungrounded terminal connected with segments forming a part of the outer ring of the intermittently operating distributor B. This distributor is provided with a release magnet 54, the energization of which is controlled through segment 21 forming a part of the multiplex distributor A. The energizing circuit of the release magnet 54. is completed at a time following the passage of brush 16 carried by the distributor brush arm 10 over segment 24, to which the first of the series of condensers is connected.

Upon therelease of the brush arm 50, brush 51 carried thereby sweeps over the 1 segments connected to one terminal of the condensers 11 to 15, and impresses on a relay 55 impulses in accordance with those stored in these condensers and as originally transmitted over the line conductor 19. Relay 105 55 controls, through its contacts, a selecting magnet 56 comprising a pair of operating coils 57 and 58 and a movable armature 59.

@electing magnet 56 forms a erred form of the invention consists of a plurality of rotatable shafts, which are arranged, upon the operation of release latches, to be rotated through an angle equal to 180. Such shafts in rotating impart a characteristic rotative motion to a type wheel 23 through a series of links and connecting levers. For a more complete description and disclosure of such a printing unit reference may be had to application, Serial No. 531,337, filed January 24, 1922. Inasmuch as .the printer mechanism per se does not form a part of the present invention, so much of the mechanism has been shown as is considered necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention. In the form of the invention disclosed, the distributor mechanism forming a part of the printer unit is the mechanism which selects in this particular case the series of shafts for rotation, and start-stop distributor B, which, as previously described, is made up of a series of concentrically arranged rings over which a brush arm is arranged to sweep, are driven from a common motor. Obviously, however, separate driving means may be provided for the respective parts by emplo ing friction clutches for giving the proper riv ing connections.

The operation of the system for the selecting and printing of a character is as follows: Assume that it is desired to select and record the character J, and that such character in accordance with the Baudot five-unit code comprises the following selecting units: positive, positive, negative, positive, and negative. For this group of impulses, the transmitting mechanism (not shown) at the station connected by the line conductor 19, is operated to impress impulses corresponding to the above grou Line relay 18 thereupon responds to suc changes in line conditions, for causing the corresponding chargingof condensers 11 to 15 inclusive. Upon the passage of brush 16 over segment 24, re lay 18 being operated to close contact 29, condenser 11 is charged positively over a circuit extending from battery, contact 29, ring 17, brush 16, segment 24, and condenser 11, to ground. Condenser 11 is thereupon charged in accordance with the first impulse forming the group of code combinations rep resenting. the character J. Likewise, as brush 16passes over segment 25, condenser 12 will be charged positively. The next selecting unit bein a negative impulse, line relay 18 is cause to reverse the position of its armature, thereby opening contact 29 and closing contact 32. Now, upon the passage of the brush 16 over segment 26, condenser 13 will be char ed negatively'as a charging circuit of this 0 aracter is completed at this time. For the other two selecting units condenser 14 will be charged in a manner similar to condensers 11 and 12, but condenser 15 will be charged as condenser 13, as a condition similar to that described in connection with the condenser 13 exists upon the passage of brush 16 over segment 28, to which this particular condenser is connected. 1

Following the passage of the brush 16 on to segment 24, brush 33 carried by the brush arm 10 of distributor A, passes over segment 21, bridging this segment with ring 34. Upon the bridging of segment 21 with ring 34, a circuit is completed for causing the energization of release magnet 54, which in energizing withdraws the release latch holding distributor arm 50 against rotation. Distributor arm 5(1 is thereupon free to rotate due to power being communicated thereto through a series of shafts, gears, and rice tion clutches. Immediately upon the passage of brush 51 oil of segment 35 and on to segment 36, relay 55 is energized for reversing the position of its armature. The reversal of the position of the armature of relay 55 com letes an energizing circuit for coil 58 of se ecting magnet56. Coil 58 of this magnet upon being energized attracts the armature 59 to the right for causing the release of the mechanism to which a series of tripping fingers 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 are connected. This release mechanism comprises a latch 43 arranged in the path of travel of armature 59 so that upon the energization of coil 58, latch 43 is operated for causing the operation of a pivotedlever 45, which moves a stop member out of the path of arm 46, which is secured to the mechanism controlling the rotation of tripping fingers 37 to 42, inclusive. For the particular selection chosen, condensers 11, 12, and 14 are charged positively, while the other condensers possess a negative charge. Thus, as brush 51 passes over the segments to which these condensers are connected, relay 55 will accordingly be caused to reverse the position of its armature for causing a corresponding condition to exist in the selecting magnet 56. As for example, upon the passage of brush 51 on to segment 52, a discharge circuit for condenser 11 is established over a circuit extending from one terminal of condenser 11, segment 52, brush 51, ring 53, conductor 60, and the windings of relay 55, to ground. This relay is caused to move its armature in accordance with the charge of this condenser. In order that the impulses stored in the condensers 11 to 15 will e transferred at the proper moment, the rods to which the release latches are secured and the shaft carrying brush arm 50 rotate at substantially the same speed. Selecting magnet 56, upon being ener ized, positions the corresponding tripping ngers with respect to one or the other of the release latches, depending upon the character of lmpulse stored in the condensers 11 to 15, as described in the previously mentioned at 'inc usive, tripping fingers 37 to 42 will be positioned in accordance with the group of impulses transmitted for" the particular character to be recorded. As these tripping fin ers revolve, they operate the latches controlling the rotation of a shaft individual to a pair of such latches. To these shafts there is connected a series of connecting links,

which in turn are connected to a rack 47 by means of a common link, the teeth of which engage the teeth of a gear wheel 48. This gear wheel 48 is rigidly secured to type wheel 23 so that upon the rotation of the shafts, which are normally held against rotation by the release latches, the cumulative effect produced by such rotation will cause a corresponding rotation of the. type wheel 23 for bringing the desired character into printing positlon. The printing of the character is accomplished as in the previously mentioned application.

Following the passage of brush 33 of! of segment 21 of the distributor A, the energizing circuit of release magnet 54 is broken so that the brush arm 50 will be stopped after having completed its cycle of rotation.

By providing a series of condensers which are operated in accordance with the impulses received on the multiplex distributor and transfer mechanism operative to cause the operation of. the selecting mechanism, as determined by the characterof the impulses considerably more time within to operate stored in such condensers, a printer is given than if it were connected directly to the I multiplex distributor.

The invention claimed is: In combination, a line, a multiplex distributor connected to said line, a plurality of condensers associated with said distributor and arranged to be charged in accordance with predetermined combinations of impulses distributed thereto by said distributor from said line, a printing type wheel, a system of levers arranged to rotate said wheel in both directions to desired positions, a series of rotatable shafts for actuating said levers, an electromagnet for releasing said shafts in predetermlned combinations, and a start-stop distributor for successively connecting said condensers to said electromagnet.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of Sept, A. D. 1922.

ANDREW D. DOWD. 

